Eps 409: Reimagining the school experience with Dr. Kristan Rodriguez

My guest today is Dr. Kristan Rodriguez.  

Dr. Rodriguez shares a bit about her background in education & parenting and how that drives her to work on transforming education. We touch on many different methodologies: world schooling, homeschooling, unschooling, and IB & AP programs. Dr. Rodriguez shares some things that need to be taught aside from academics like financial literacy, art & music, and entrepreneurial skills. I ask if she sees that schools are willing to make changes and try less traditional methodologies - do kids need to know and regurgitate “The Canterbury Tales” more than they need authentic real-life learning experiences? I also ask what parents can do to help sway their administrators to make changes (spoiler: get involved & participate!). We agree that checking-in and setting goals with your teen before a new school year starts is a good plan, as well as empowering our kids to see where they have control. We touch on how to scaffold and facilitate hard conversations for your adolescent (while not having those tricky conversations for them). Dr. Rodriguez and I end by discussing how schools are supporting mental health for their students. 

Takeaways from the show

• Meeting individual needs in a school setting
• AP & IB programs, world schooling, homeschooling, & unschooling  
• What should be taught in addition to traditional academics? 
• Are we adequately preparing adolescents for careers? 
• Schools are more willing to try less traditional methodologies 
• What life-skills actually need to be taught in 2023? 
• How can parents encourage their administrators to make changes? 
• Checking-in and goal-setting with teens before a new school year
• Facilitating hard conversations for your adolescent 
• How are schools supporting mental health? 
• Engaging students outside of academia

For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.

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